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Thursday, September 3, 2026 · UTC
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Fighter Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Quits IAF to Join Fly91

Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, known for shooting down an F-16, has resigned from the Indian Air Force to join private carrier Fly91.

TruthFoundry Desk
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Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman resigned from the Indian Air Force on March 31 to join the private airline Fly91. [1] Abhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet using an R-73 air-to-air missile while flying a Soviet-era MiG-21 Bison on February 27, 2019. [2] Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control on February 27, 2019. [3] Abhinandan Varthaman was captured after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison but was returned to India by Pakistan on March 1, 2019, after being held captive for almost 60 hours. [4] Officials aware of the matter confirmed the resignation and the pilot's subsequent joining of Fly91 on Wednesday. [5] The Indian government honoured Abhinandan Varthaman with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. [6] Varthaman was captured by Pakistani military forces after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison and landing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. [7]
What this stands on
  1. Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman resigned from the Indian Air Force on March 31 to join the private airline Fly91. · Hindustan Times
  2. Abhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet using an R-73 air-to-air missile while flying a Soviet-era MiG-21 Bison on February 27, 2019. · mint
  3. Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control on February 27, 2019. · Hindustan Times
  4. Abhinandan Varthaman was captured after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison but was returned to India by Pakistan on March 1, 2019, after being held captive for almost 60 hours. · Hindustan Times
  5. Officials aware of the matter confirmed the resignation and the pilot's subsequent joining of Fly91 on Wednesday. · Hindustan Times
  6. The Indian government honoured Abhinandan Varthaman with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. · mint
  7. Varthaman was captured by Pakistani military forces after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison and landing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. · mint
We could not place any of them by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.
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